Kinsley
Dancing With The Crow
As the warmth of our dance lingered in the air, I knew it would be a memory I would cherish long after the night was over. In the midst of the ballroom lights’ soft glow, I heard a throat clear. My eyes shot up, and Nikolai King stood waiting, a playful glint in his eyes.
“Thanks, Brother. Now that she’s warmed up, I’ll take over.” Nik took me from Alek.
His fingers intertwined with mine, and my heartbeat began a new rhythm, one filled with trepidation. I found myself stepping back onto the dance floor and into the unknown. The music swirled around us, and his green eyes danced. Words escaped me.
“Viennese Waltz okay by you?”
I nodded. He led me out, and the opening notes of “You Are The Reason” rang out. He wrapped one arm around my side, and I lifted my hand to touch the back of his neck.
His voice washed over me as he said in Russian, “U tebya krasivyye glaza.”You have beautiful eyes.
I responded in Russian, telling him he was too kind. I could listen to this man speak to me all day. It was melodic and made me feel an instant connection to him. As if sensing this, he continued to speak to me in Russian, and soon, we were conversing fluently with one another. It was otherworldly, and my heart soared.
His hands gripped my waist, and he turned me to the side. Speaking into my ear, he asked, “Are you having a good time with Alek this evening?”
My face flushed red, and I answered honestly. “Yes, I am. What about you? Are you having a good time?”
“Very much so. I’ve got a romantic song playing and a beautiful girl on my arm that dances like a dream. What more could a man ask for?”
“With Jenna…I meant with your girlfriend,” I stammered, dropping the Russian altogether. I about choked. Was he flirting with me?
Searching for Alek, I saw him talking to Ivan, but his eyes were on me. His stance was relaxed, though curiosity radiated from him as he watched us dance, and it forced me to relax as well. If he trusted Nik, then it must be okay. He sure didn’t trust any other man with me, judging by his actions at the dance studio and the way he had acted over Brian hugging me.
“How long have you been together? It’s obvious you are close,” I asked Nikolai.
“Jenna’s not my girlfriend. That’s not my style.” He gave me an impish grin.
“What? Sure she is. I mean, you’re obviously lovers. I could see it right away.”
He chuckled as we twirled around the dance floor. What the hell was wrong with me, blurting out inappropriate things about his relationship? It looked like I was practically fishing for information. And what did he mean it wasn’t his style?
“Oh, you’re so innocent. I wouldn’t call us lovers. That’s too intimate of a word.” His voice was once again at my ear, soft, feathery, and in Russian.
His words left me confused. This moment felt intimate to me in some strange way. Clearly, we had different definitions of intimacy. And he was right, maybe I was too innocent.
“So, if not lovers, then what?” I ventured to ask, wanting to understand this tall, dark-haired man better.
“We fuck, a lot.” His voice was low in my ear as he held me close. “A lot, a lot.”
“Umm, okay. Wow. I’m not sure how to respond to that,” I stammered.
Who tells someone that after only knowing them for an evening meal? The previous, brief club encounter didn’t count in my book.
“You asked. Why did you ask if you didn’t want to know?” He smirked.
“I’m not sure what world you live in, but letting the man you sleep with danc—”
“Let me?” He interrupted. “Baby, she doesn’t have that much power. And just so you know, we don’t ever sleep together. I don’t allow women to sleep in my bed. Ever,” he said in English; his going back and forth between the two languages kept me on my toes.
“But you fuck them there, and then what? Throw them out after? What an amazing arrangement. Lucky her,” I said sarcastically, and he laughed.
“Lower your voice. We fuck at her place, the club, or in the playroom. And with how she drops everything for me when I call, I’d say she considers herself extremely lucky.”
I stumbled at the wordplayroom. He caught and steadied me. Thankfully, the song was ending. I avoided his eyes, looking once more for Alek. My instincts were right; there were some subtle clues throughout dinner.
